Surface Modification of γ-Al₂O₃ Nanoparticles Using Conductive Polyaniline Doped by Dodecylbenzene Sulfonic Acid

In this study, electrically conductive PANDB/γ-Al₂O₃ core-shell nanocomposites were synthesized by surface modification of γ-Al₂O₃ nanoparticles using polyaniline doped with dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid. The PANDB/γ-Al₂O₃ core-shell nanocomposites were synthesized by in situ polymerization. Pure PANDB and the PANDB/γ-Al₂O₃ core-shell nanocomposites were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and measurement of a four-point probe. The conductivity of the PANDB/γ-Al₂O₃ core-shell nanocomposite was about 0.72 S/cm when the weight ratio of aniline/γ-Al₂O₃ was 3/1. The results showed that the conductivity of the PANDB/γ-Al₂O₃ core-shell nanocomposite decreased with increasing amounts of γ-Al₂O₃ nanoparticles. The transmission electron microscopy results indicated that the γ-Al₂O₃ nanoparticles were thoroughly coated with PANDB to form a core-shell structure. Transmission electron microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy images of the conductive PANDB/γ-Al₂O₃ core-shell nanocomposites also showed that the thickness of the PANDB layer decreased as the amount of γ-Al₂O₃ was increased.